Fire Matt Williams! (2015) - Standard Decision.

[houston-nat]

Is it true that Matt Williams said he decides which reliever will pitch which inning BEFORE THE GAME??

[Lintyfresh85]

Would that really surprise you?

[varoadking]

It's only a 12:58 podcast.   

38:32...you were on the 8/14/15 edition...

[aspenbubba]

I think that Rizzo cares about Ted Lerner. It has always seemed that Boswell spoke for the Lerners, which would make sense because Ted Lerner grew up in Washington and made his money here. Boswell inherited some of the grandeur that was Shirley Povich. If Boswell starts asking Williams hard questions -- and maybe he has begun -- that would mean that the Lerners are very displeased.

I looked up Ted Lerner: born 1925. He was eight when the Nats last won a pennant;  through most of his adulthood the Calvin Griffith Nats floundered and then the expansion Senators were worse. Go on, be angry, Mr. Lerner.

I know first hand that his first choice for a sports franchise was the Redskins. He did go to Senators games as a kid and paid 25 cents for admission.

[Natsinpwc]

go to 20:00 and get a drink - you'll need it

http://tunein.com/radio/ESPN-Baseball-Tonight-with-Buster-Olney-p492184/

Sorry but can't find it. Is this about Bryce to the Yankees being inevitable? 
These guys don't really know much more than the average poster here.

[varoadking]

Sorry but can't find it. Is this about Bryce to the Yankees being inevitable? 
These guys don't really know much more than the average poster here.

Click on the 8/17/15 podcast...it defaults to the 8/14/17 if you don't do that...

[Natsinpwc]

Click on the 8/17/15 podcast...it defaults to the 8/14/17 if you don't do that...

I'm on the phone and won't work without the app.

[PC]

When did ESPN become the authority on anything here?  When they were saying good things about the Nationals, they were completely dismissed (and I actually paid attention to them).  Now they're ripping the Nationals and it's like they're delivering an encyclical from the Pope (and I haven't watched ESPN in weeks)

[varoadking]

When did ESPN become the authority on anything here?  When they were saying good things about the Nationals, they were completely dismissed (and I actually paid attention to them).  Now they're ripping the Nationals and it's like they're delivering an encyclical from the Pope (and I haven't watched ESPN in weeks)

I don't think they are an authority, PC...it's just more piling on a bad dream is all...kinda like WNFF...

[skippy1999]

When did ESPN become the authority on anything here?  When they were saying good things about the Nationals, they were completely dismissed (and I actually paid attention to them).  Now they're ripping the Nationals and it's like they're delivering an encyclical from the Pope (and I haven't watched ESPN in weeks)

I think out of all of the ESPN personalities their baseball guys generally avoid hysteria and seem to be pretty knowledgeable, but on the whole you're right, ESPN is terrible

[ZIM4MVP]

go to 20:00 and get a drink - you'll need it

http://tunein.com/radio/ESPN-Baseball-Tonight-with-Buster-Olney-p492184/

hard to take a podcast seriously when it starts off by comparing the audio from a winning teams pitcher vs a losing teams manager.  You could probably compare Colon with Williams from Opening Day and it would sound similar. 

With that said these "experts" are the same ones that picked the Nats to win it all in the preseason and if this season is somehow turned around the same "experts" will be nut swingers that cant quit reporting positive news regarding the Nats

[tomterp]

38:32...you were on the 8/14/15 edition...

That's the only one I saw when I used the link.  Not sure where I was supposed to go other than the one that immediately started playing.

[houston-nat]

Would that really surprise you?

No, not at all, but that would make him one of the dumbest managers of the past 20 years.

[varoadking]

That's the only one I saw when I used the link.  Not sure where I was supposed to go other than the one that immediately started playing.

Click on the 8/17/15 podcast...

[varoadking]

hard to take a podcast seriously when it starts off by comparing the audio from a winning teams pitcher vs a losing teams manager.  You could probably compare Colon with Williams from Opening Day and it would sound similar. 

With that said these "experts" are the same ones that picked the Nats to win it all in the preseason and if this season is somehow turned around the same "experts" will be nut swingers that cant quit reporting positive news regarding the Nats

They don't have to be experts to report what is happening...and be as bewildered as we all are...

[tomterp]

Click on the 8/17/15 podcast...

ok, thanks.

[pazzo83]

I think out of all of the ESPN personalities their baseball guys generally avoid hysteria and seem to be pretty knowledgeable, but on the whole you're right, ESPN is terrible

This.  ESPN is borderline insufferable during college BB season.  Sometimes I just want to punch Jay Bilas in the face.

[Five Banners]

http://www.examiner.com/article/nationals-have-a-short-window-to-show-players-fans-their-true-priorities

"Moreover, it's not like they've got a seasoned, proven staff who at least could instruct the September call ups if that was the only objective the team had left for the season. They've got a second-year manager who from most objective analyses has major learning to do but displays a temperament that works against the likelihood that improvement is imminent, as well as a pitching and hitting staff which is hardly renowned or covered with accolades for their player development. Given the lack of preparedness demonstrated in executing fundamentals that marked the Nationals as they up the 2015 season, there appears little reason to unleash the current staff on the team’s minor leaguers."

Agreed, and this is another issue with the long goodbye (if there is a goodbye).   Anyone really want Rick Schu spending any time with the AA and AAA players?

[whytev]

http://www.examiner.com/article/nationals-have-a-short-window-to-show-players-fans-their-true-priorities

"Moreover, it's not like they've got a seasoned, proven staff who at least could instruct the September call ups if that was the only objective the team had left for the season. They've got a second-year manager who from most objective analyses has major learning to do but displays a temperament that works against the likelihood that improvement is imminent, as well as a pitching and hitting staff which is hardly renowned or covered with accolades for their player development. Given the lack of preparedness demonstrated in executing fundamentals that marked the Nationals as they up the 2015 season, there appears little reason to unleash the current staff on the team’s minor leaguers."

Agreed, and this is another issue with the long goodbye (if there is a goodbye).   Anyone really want Rick Schu spending any time with the AA and AAA players?

I gotta say, I like the Black idea, but I think he'd have to hand pick his own pitching and hitting coach too. I don't trust either of them at this point. Knorr can stay.

[DPMOmaha]

I think any manager should be able to pick his own bench staff.

[skippy1999]

I think any manager should be able to pick his own bench staff.

Me too, I thought it was nuts they foisted Davey's staff on Williams.

[DPMOmaha]

Me too, I thought it was nuts they foisted Davey's staff on Williams.

It actually tells me a lot about a manager that is willing to take a job with those conditions attached. It would be a remarkable coincidence if he went through the hiring process and decided to keep all of the same guys. That just doesn't happen.

[HalfSmokes]

There are only 30 managerial jobs, I'm not surprised that he accepted one with conditions attached, if he said no, he might never have seen another offer

[DPMOmaha]

Maybe being a first time Manager he felt he had to. He was considered an up and comer, though and a big enough name in the game, I don't think it would have ruined him from ever getting a job again. Maybe it says more about Rizzo than it does Williams, IDK.

[pazzo83]

I'm getting impatient, has he been canned yet?